The UK’s New Year’s Honours list for 2026 recognises several individuals from across the chemical sciences community. Among those included are researchers working in the nuclear industry, sustainable chemistry and forensic science.
Claire Gallery-Strong, corporate services director at Nuclear Waste Services – an organisation focused on nuclear waste management – was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to the nuclear industry. Gallery-Strong, who is a founder member of UK Women in Nuclear, previously served as honorary treasurer for the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
‘I am delighted to see our outgoing honorary treasurer, Claire Gallery-Strong recognised for her outstanding career,’ said RSC chief executive Helen Pain. ‘She has made a huge contribution to powering the UK and I’m so grateful for the support she has given me and her fellow Royal Society of Chemistry trustees over many years.’
The RSC also offered its congratulations to the University of York’s Avtar Matharu, who was awarded an MBE for services to equality, diversity and inclusion and to interfaith and community cohesion. Matharu is an expert in sustainable chemistry and is heavily involved in inclusion and diversity programmes across the university and the city of York.
‘We’re proud to see Avtar recognised in this way as he has worked extensively on important projects over the years,’ said Ale Palermo, head of global inclusion at the RSC. ‘He is such an inspiring member of our community and I am so pleased others have this opportunity to acknowledge his contribution.’
Also recognised in the 2026 honours was Gideon Henderson, an environmental scientist from the University of Oxford, who served as chief scientific adviser in the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2019 until June 2025. Henderson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to science.
Jennifer Rubin, chief scientific advisor and director general at the Home Office from 2021 to 2025, was also recognised with a CBE for her services to science and analysis. Rubin’s research at King’s College London focuses on social and political science, and she has previously served as executive chair of the Economic and Social Research Council, the UK’s largest funder of research on economic and social issues.
Frances Wall, an expert on applied mineralogy from the University of Exeter was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to geoscience and sustainable resource development. Wall specialises in the sourcing and processing of technology raw materials, in particular lithium and cobalt.
Several biochemists were also recognised in the honours list. Suzanne Farid from University College London was appointed a CBE for services to biochemical engineering, and Martin Humphries from the University of Manchester was recognised with an OBE for his services to bioscience.
Lorna Dawson, head of the Centre for Forensic Soil Science at the James Hutton Institute was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath for her services to innovations in soil and forensic science. Dawson’s research focuses on soil and plant interactions and its application in the criminal justice system.